The Westford Wardsman, November 10, 1917
Center. The board of selectmen have called a public meeting at the town hall for Monday evening at eight o’clock in relation to the operation of the electric cars between Westford Center and Brookside. This is a meeting of importance and the citizens are earnestly requested to make an effort to attend.
The Edmund T. Simpson family, who have occupied the Luce homestead [25 Main St.] for many months, have moved back to Lowell this week and the community loses a pleasant family thereby.
At the Unitarian church on Monday a group of ministers held a meeting of fellowship and conference. Rev. L. H. Buckshorn was the host for the day and at noon the ladies of the church provided a luncheon for the visiting clergymen.
Mrs. Mary O. Blood died at Ayer Tuesday after a lingering illness. The body was brought to Westford, Thursday, and interment took place in the family lot in Westlawn cemetery. Mrs. Blood was the widow of the late N. B. Blood, and lived for many years on the farm on the Flagg road, now owned by Rev. William E. Anderson. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hutchins, and the family home was the old Col. Robinson homestead [located at 19 Robinson Rd.], now owned by Edwin Hunt.
Westford friends will be interested to learn of a letter recently received by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Blodgett, of Medford, formerly of Westford, from their son, Edward, in the service “Somewhere in France.” He writes in good spirits and good health, says he has good food and enough of it, and finds his experiences interesting. His only complaint was of much rainy weather which caused considerable discomfort.
We note the wedding of a former Westford girl this week as follows: Tuesday afternoon, at the home of Rev. Chalmers P. Dyke, of Andover, Miss Eva Craven, daughter of Mrs. Emily L. Craven, of Lowell, and Leon N. Calvert, of Buffalo, N.Y., were married. Owing to illness in the bride’s family the plans for the ceremony were changed. The only attendants were Miss Marion Calvert, a sister of the groom, and the bride’s brother, Allen B. Craven, of Boston. After a brief wedding trip Mr. and Mrs. Calvert will reside in Erie, Pa., where Mr. Calvert holds an important position with the New York Central railroad. The Craven family lived in Graniteville for many years, and Mrs. Robert H. Elliot, a sister of the bride, has her summer home in Westford Center.
Mrs. W. D. Pitkin is entertaining her sister, Mrs. Perry, and son Raymond, and also an uncle, Mr. Pierce, all of Brandon, Vt. The latter part of last week the son Raymond, about ten years of age, was taken seriously sick with bronchitis, complicated with asthma. He was removed to a Lowell hospital, and while he has been seriously sick, is reported as improving each day.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ingalls took an auto party from the C.E. society of the Congregational church into Lowell on last week Friday evening to attend a Halloween social at the Paige street Baptist church.
The annual banquet of the Congregational church takes place next Wednesday evening at the town hall. Dinner will be served at seven o’clock and Booth’s orchestra will furnish music, with Mr. Hiller, violinist and pianist, in charge. John P. Wright will act as toastmaster and the speaker of the evening will be A. H. Wardle, a Y.M.C.A. worker of wide experience, who is the superintendent of the new Federated church work for the soldiers in Ayer.
David Desmond, living in the south part of the town, met with an uncomfortable accident this week. While driving home from Lowell, near the Golden Cove road, Chelmsford, the horse slipped on the smooth road and threw Mr. Desmond off the wagon seat. He was so wrapped up with robes that he could not help himself quick enough and received a bad bruising and shaking up, and cuts about the face, but managed to proceed to Chelmsford Center, where he saw a doctor and after treatment was able to get home.
The Edward M. Abbot hose company held its regular monthly meeting and first supper of the season on Wednesday evening at their new quarters in the old academy building, being remodeled into a firehouse. A fine oyster and cold meat supper in charge of Mrs. Harry Stiles was served to the fourteen present. The same committee in charge of last year’s firemen’s ball were appointed to run a dance this season if it seemed best to them.
The Ladies’ Aid of the Congregational church held their meeting for November at the home of E. J. Whitney on Thursday afternoon. The new president, Mrs. John P. Wright, presided, and there was a good attendance present.
Tadmuck Club. The first meeting for November of the Tadmuck club was held at Library hall on Tuesday afternoon with a good attendance. The president, Miss Howard, presided, giving notice of invitations for this club to be represented at coming meetings at the Altrurian club, Shirley, November 8, and at the 1910 club, Billerica, November 15; also, of the fall meeting of the State Federation in Braintree on November 14. Mrs. E. F. David was welcomed into membership.
The program for the afternoon was in charge of the civics committee, Miss Mary P. Bunce, Miss Martha L. Grant and Mrs. Arthur E. Day. Miss Emily Skilton, a social welfare worker in the Florence Crittendon Rescue league, of Lowell, gave an address on “Safeguarding our young people.”
Miss Skilton was a practical and courageous speaker and her talk was followed with close attention and was of vital interest to parents, teachers and all interested in young people. She was preceded by Mrs. Anthony B. Anderson, who read with special fitness “The dangerous cliff.”
The next meeting is one to be especially anticipated by the membership and will be presidents’ day, to be held at the Congregational church. Mrs. Minna Eliot Tenney Peck, the well-known lecturer, of Boston, and whose home town is Littleton, will lecture on “Legends traditions and symbolism in Italian art,” and there will be an exhibition of Italian curios and jewelry by Mrs. Lena B. H. Peruzzi. Mrs. William R. Carver will be the hostess of the afternoon.
Red Cross Work. The Red Cross and French Relief societies have both held their regular meetings this week at Library hall with good attendance and interest. The following is a report of work sent to Lowell Middlesex chapter, Red Cross, for the months of September and October from the town of Westford: 129 sweaters, 44 mufflers, 103 pairs service socks, 92 wristers, 21 helmets, 47 caps, 30 wash mits [sic], 92 pajama suits, 58 hospital shirts, 3 convalescent robes, 49 handkerchiefs, 175 T bandages, 159 binders, 165 slings, 120 pillows, 5720 surgical dressings, Christmas bags.
Special mention should be made of these Christmas bags for so many is a good showing. Different ones have taken these bags and filled them from a list given out by the president and costing from $1.25 to $1.50. Everyone filled means a Christmas present to some boy in service.
Last, but not least, was a gift to the local branch, received last week, but incorporated into this report, which was not ready until this week. This was a gift of thirty-five dollars from the girls of the Jolly club of Forge Village, the proceeds of the recent dance given by them. The officers and members of the local Red Cross deeply appreciate this splendid gift and the spirit that goes with it to help forward this work.
About Town. At the New England fruit show in Boston last week Mr. Laboutley, superintendent of the Drew farm, exhibited a plate of Gravensteins and Wagener apples, and took first honors and prizes in their respective classes. Visitors from Westford report an unusually fine display of box and 5- and 10-specimens plate apples displayed. The Canadian display of seedling apples was very interesting. The display of the southern states was also another interesting factor. Among the visitors from Westford was Rev. L. H. Buckshorn, who is something of an expert in apple growing himself. Mr. Laboutley, the successful winner, was also present.
The Ordway family of five, from Southboro, have moved into the east tenement of the farm house at the Drew farm [164 Main St.].
There was a very large attendance at the Grange Neighbors’ night last week Thursday evening. Bedford and West Chelmsford Granges furnished the entertainment of song, piano and recitation. Remarks were made by past masters and deputies of other Granges. Representatives were present from the nearby Granges and some from afar. Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. Edson G. Boynton, of Medfield, past master of Westford Grange, and former superintendent of the town farm. He favored those present with his old-time mood and mode of singing.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Whitney have been spending the Indian summer vacation with relatives in Athol.
William P. Williams, of Parkerville, has raised 200 bushels of carrots. This looks like the world championship inside of Westford.
[Herbert] Hoover, our food regulator, has sent forth much valuable and much needed advice, but his last advice is neither valuable nor needed. We should raise more pork for our soldiers for food while fighting. Have we all forgotten that rice-fed small Japan punished to a finish meat-fed large Russia.
Amos Polly, on the Prairie farm, finished cutting the third crop of hay on Tuesday on the same land. On the other extreme parties are cutting the Nutting meadow on which are three years’ crops of hay and all at one year’s price.
The election officers at the Brookside precinct on Tuesday were Walter A. Whidden, Bernard Flynn, Charles S. Edwards, Henry J. O’Brien.
There was a small brush fire at the Sargent farm on Tuesday evening which called out the Chamberlin’s Corner fire department, and as a reserve flank movement the east wing of the Stony Brook fire department was called to the rear of the fire.
Hunters are busy firing at space and occasionally hit it—being more abundant than game. Keep right on, ladies and gentlemen, with the open season and we shall see where beautiful innocent bird life will be exterminated. But little is left now except grasshoppers, woodchucks and rats, about all else has either been killed off or frightened to death.
Several police officers from the Boston zone called at the Old Oaken Bucket farm last Saturday with a search warrant for game, but were unable to secure it because the open season is a deadly trap net. They were directed to Mr. Hanscomb’s place on the Tadmuck road, who proved to be brother to one of the officers.
The ministers of the Middlesex-North Unitarian Conference met at the First Parish church in Westford last Monday. The camp situation in Ayer was the chief topic for consideration and Rev. Frank B. Crandall, of Ayer, was the principal speaker. Thomas H. Elliott, of Lowell, president of the association was an honored guest. Five other conferences will be held this winter. The women of the church served a fine dinner for them.
John Reid, of West Chelmsford, was married last week to Miss Elsa Anderson.
Forge Village. Rev. Angus Dun will occupy the pulpit at St. Andrew’s mission on Sunday afternoon at 4:30.
Private William Williamson of Amsterdam, N.Y., now at Camp Devens, was the guest Saturday and Sunday of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Davis.
The Abbot Worsted Company are building a large number of houses of which the cellars are being dug as rapidly as possible. P. H. Harrington has the contract, which calls for one four-tenement house and a two-tenement house to contain all improvements, and to be built on land in the rear of St. Andrew’s mission. Six attractive cottages, with baths, will be built on Union street. The cottage and barn on the Gurney farm is also rapidly nearing completion and will be occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Healy. The house, which is being remodeled, contains eight rooms and bath, has a large piazza and electric lights.
About twenty-five Christmas bags for the soldiers in France were filled by the children and teachers of Cameron school and forwarded to headquarters last week. The upper classes of Westford academy also filled a large number. The freshmen and sophomores of the school contributed towards a Christmas fund for the benefit of the children of the Allies.
Mrs. Thomas Doyle and three sons motored from Quinsigamond [in Worcester] last Sunday to the home of Mrs. Caroline Brown where they were entertained at tea.
Mr. and Mrs. James H. Brown of Clinton, spent Sunday with their relatives here.
The pupils of Cameron school are rehearsing for a cantata to be given at Christmas.
The many friend of Miss Margaret O’Hara will be interested to know that she is on duty as nurse at the hospital at Camp Devens while awaiting orders to be sent to France.
There was no school Friday as the teachers attended a convention in Pepperell.
A meeting of the Athletic club was held on Monday night at the home of J. Kavanagh. The following players are asked to report at the hall on Saturday afternoon at 1:45, prompt: Douglas, J. Costello, Smith, Canbon, W. Kelly, Hobson, W. Mulligan, Turnbull, Taylor, Mitchell, T. Kelly, Kavanagh, G. Mulligan, Gallagher, McNiff, J. McNiff, Mann, T. Costello, J. Kelly, when the final selection of the team to meet Methuen on Saturday will be made. A good game is expected as the visitors are one of the best teams in the state. They defeated the local team by the score of 3 to 2 two weeks ago, and the village boys are out for revenge. The committee decided to run a concert and dance on Thanksgiving eve in the hall, and it was also decided to run a domino handicap, entries for which are now open. The committee hopes for a good attendance at the game on Saturday, for they cannot get a good team together without proper support.
Graniteville. The Westford members of the state guard had a practice drill at the Abbot playground on last Sunday afternoon that attracted a large number of spectators. Maj. Charles Robinson had charge of the drill work, assisted by Capt. W. J. Robinson and Lieut. H. V. Hildreth. The company went through the different evolutions in good shape and made a fine appearance.
Both masses at St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning were celebrated by the pastor, Rev. C. P. Heaney, who gave interesting sermons on “Faith.” At the first mass the members of the Woman’s Sodality received holy communion in a body, and after the second mass the regular meeting of the Holy Name society was held. As usual, both masses were largely attended.
The Ladies’ Aid society met with Mrs. Lucy A. Blood on last week Thursday afternoon.
Fine weather prevailed for the state election, but in spite of this fact there was not a very heavy vote cast in this precinct.
The Red Cross society held an entertainment in the M.E. church on last Wednesday evening that was largely attended. The principal attraction was Harry C. Collins, of Lowell, who has been a participant in the European war. He gave a very interesting lecture of his experience in the trenches and while a member of the aviation corps. He also explained the excellent work being done by the Red Cross in France. After the lecture a buffet lunch was served. Quite a neat sum was realized on this event, the proceeds of which will be used to purchase fuel for the local quarters of the Red Cross. Mrs. Clara Gray had charge of the affair.
Mrs. Catherine Espie of Fitchburg, has been visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wall for the past few days.
The regular meeting of Court Westford, M.C.O.F., was held in the rooms of the society on Thursday night.
The new house being erected by Conrad Richard is rapidly nearing completion, while J. Austin Healy’s new house is well under way.
Ayer
News Items. A large number of soldiers were present last Sunday at the Baptist church, both morning and evening, several assisting in the young people’s choir. The pastor, Rev. J. W. Thomas, will preach on Sunday morning at 10:45; subject, “The gospel of good cheer.” Sunday school at twelve. Service of song at 6:45 in the evening. Preaching at seven o’clock by Rev. P. F. Peterson. B.Y.P.U. on Tuesday evening at 7:30. Mid-week prayer meeting on Thursday evening at 7:30.
Spoke at Camp Devens. Mrs. Lewis J. Johnson, acting vice president of the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage association; also, chairman of the congressional committee, spoke at Camp Devens last week Thursday evening to the New York men. Y.M.C.A. building No. 27 was packed with earnest-faced young men who listened most attentively to Mrs. Johnson’s remarks. Mrs. Jessie Wilson Sayre, the president’s daughter, hoped to attend this meeting, but was unable to do so, and sent instead a letter to the New York men who voted on Monday:
I wish I were present to tell you personally of my great hope that you who are going to France to fight for democracy will help the women of your state, so that we many have the full power to do our share in the great conflict fully equipped. On us has fallen a great responsibility. In the last analysis the food problems and the welfare problems of all workers have devolved upon us. Democracy here must be guarded and conserved and carried forward. Give us that necessary tool which men alone can give us so that we may go forward to our great tasks unhandicapped. Jessie Wilson Sayre.
Mrs. Johnson is an active member of the committee who has recently purchased the Cornellier house on West Main street. A coffee house, on the same plan of that conducted by the suffragists at Plattsburg, N.Y., is to be opened here. Prominent Boston women, among whom are Mrs. Robert Gould Shaw, Mrs. George R. Fearing and Mrs. George W. Perkins, are deeply interested in the Ayer coffee house.
During Mrs. Johnson’s stay in Ayer she was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Barry.
Clipping. The following is taken from the Boston Evening Transcript of Monday, November 5:
The Boston city council went on record today in favor of a reduced fare on the Boston and Maine railroad between Boston and Ayer on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and also for the sending of 100 Boston policemen to aid in the handling of the traffic.
The fare reduction order was submitted by Councilor John J. Attridge, who declared that there was no doubt that the railroad could bring the change about by announcing it and filing such announcement with the public service commission. This statement was in reply to announcement by Receiver Hustis that the railroad could not establish excursion rates at this time. Mr. Attridge declared that the Long Island railroad had reduced its fare from the Yaphank camp to New York city and that if one railroad could do it, others could. He said that the city council should speak for the soldiers who are unable to speak for themselves. The charge of $1.82 for the round trip from Boston to Ayer was a great hardship to the soldiers earning only thirty dollars a month.
Councilor Henry E. Hagan introduced the order for police assistance at Ayer, the order reading that the mayor should consider the advisability of taking the matter up with Police Commissioner O’Meara, traffic conditions at Ayer on Sunday being deplorable.
Prison Terms for Assault. Frank Keenan, a former prize fighter of Bridgeport Conn., and Nicholas Costello of Waterbury, Conn., members of the drafted army at Camp Devens, were sentenced Thursday by a general court-martial to ten to twenty years, respectively, in Federal prison for assaulting Carl E. Krug of Waterbury, corporal of the guard, on the night of October 13.
The conviction of the men met with general approbation because of the brutal nature of the attack on the corporal, and Major General Harry F. Hodges, commanding, issued orders that the sentence be read to every company at retreat Thursday night. General Hodges said it was the first serious breach of discipline here, and he wanted it impressed upon the 35,000 soldiers at Camp Devens that severe punishment would be dealt all offenders.
Costello was ordered committed to the Federal prison at Atlanta. Keenan will be sent to the army prison on Governor’s Island. The court also ordered that the prisoners be dishonorably discharged from the army.
Returning to the camp late at night, Costello and Keenan were halted by Krug, who was knocked down, clubbed and rendered unconscious. When officers and men went to his assistance there was trouble in subduing the offenders, who were convicted also of insubordination. Both were members of Company H, 304th Infantry. Krug was corporal of Company G of the same organization.
Groton
A Letter From the Front. The following letters, of describing the breaking of camp at Westfield, the trip across to England and landing at their camp in France, has been received from Frank A. Woods, by his parents in town, the first letter being dated Sept 19:
Dear Mother—I wrote you a letter while we were at a Canadian port, but I did not finish it in time to get it off. I called you up from Haverhill on Wednesday night and we broke camp on Friday. We got our pay on Thursday. We had to get up in the middle of the night, Wednesday, and work most of the night getting our freight packed. The actual breaking of camp was a wonderful sight. At a given signal all the tents of the whole regiment went flat to the ground. In a few minutes they were all piled up at the head of the street. It was quite a job to pack up all our things. I was on the detail that loaded them onto the baggage cars. There were seventeen cars on our train. It took two trains to carry the whole regiment.
We pulled out of Boxford about 1:30 p.m. We went by way of Haverhill, Lowell Junction, Lowell, Ayer, Worcester, Putnam, Conn., Hartford, etc., to New York. We got into Ayer in time to see the five o’clock train for Worcester pull out. I tried to see some one that I knew but I did not see a person that I knew. We arrived in New York the next morning, about three o’clock.
We loaded our baggage onto a boat and along with two companies of infantry from Connecticut we went down the river. We tied up at Pier 60 on the New York side and transferred from that boat to this one. The only chance we had to see New York was what we could see from the boat as we came down the river. It was very cold and it was misting heavily.
As soon as we came on board we were assigned to our quarters. We were fortunate enough to get state rooms in the second class. Many of the men had to travel steerage. It is bad enough here, but it is something fierce down there. We have to keep our port holes closed night and day, so it gets very hot and close. Many of the fellows are sleeping on deck, but it is quite a bit of work to lug a mattress and blankets up and down every day. When we are on guard we have to sleep on deck.
There are passengers on this boat, so conditions are better than they would be on a regular transport where all the staterooms have been torn out. We have to keep to our own class. We are not allowed on first-class deck or saloon, as the officers are quartered there.
At eleven o’clock Sunday morning we pulled out of our pier and put to sea. As most of the crew on this ship are English we had lots of fun listening to them talk. The railway engineers went over on this boat before us. This is such a large boat that there was little motion. The ship has a funny crew. There are kids, cripples and old men—all the able-bodied men have gone to war.
When we pulled out of our dock we were all ordered below deck. I found a good port hole and watched the scenery through it. I got a good look at the statue of Liberty. At night we were not allowed to light matches or use flashlights at all. All port holes were closed.
Monday morning we began to feel quite a ground swell. My stomach was out of condition and I came near being sick. I got up early Tuesday morning and I saw the sun rise, and soon after we sighted land. Outside of the harbor we pulled up and took on a pilot. He came over in a rowboat from a sailboat nearby. On the way into the harbor we saw a medium-sized steamer, which I later found out was a Canadian hospital ship that had run aground on some rocks. On the way into the harbor we passed several battleships, and in the inside harbor we found many merchant ships and three transports, all smaller than this boat. As we steamed by them they cheered us and we cheered them. Someone on shore waved an American flag from one of the cottages and it brought forth a lot of cheering. We went to the extreme end of the harbor and dropped anchor. Small boats came alongside and we were able to buy papers, magazine, fruit and candy.
It was very pretty in the harbor and I wish that we might have stayed there longer. While we were there I had my last inoculation and it never bothered me one bit. While in this port I got a newspaper and am enclosing a couple of clippings. From the time we left camp until now we have had no passes.
At five o’clock Wednesday afternoon we pulled anchor and started out of the harbor. The men on the warships gave us some fine cheers and their band played “The Star Spangled Banner.” It was a fine sight to see the ships strung out in one long line. I stayed on deck until we lost sight of land. There were quite a bunch of ships left the harbor with us but they did not all stay with us. Some were headed for New York and Boston. We have been going very slowly so that the slowest ship could keep up.
Thursday morning when I came on deck I found that there were eight ships in all. The leading ship is an auxiliary cruiser, carrying about eight guns. Three of the ships have troops on board and the others are plain freighters. All the boats have guns mounted on them. There are six-inch guns mounted on the stern of this ship. We are in the center of the fleet, as we have on board a very valuable cargo, including a shipment of a large amount of money. Most of the way we have been going northeast, but we keep zig-zagging and changing the formation in which we travel.
Friday morning we sighted several fishing boats and so concluded that we must be off the Grand banks. Saturday the waves began to run very high. I felt pretty shaky most of the day but did not lose my lunch. Harry Bruce was quite sick and fed the fishes a couple of times. I felt pretty bad and laid around on deck most of the time. It is so cold on deck that we have to wear our overcoats all the time. Towards night I began to feel quite a bit better.
Sunday the whole company was put on guard duty. The old boat was pitching in great style, but I did not mind it much. The waves were running so high that they almost came in over the deck. I slept on deck that night. In the middle of the night it was some job to find our bunks again.
Tuesday we expected to pick up an escort but none was sighted. The food here at first was very good, but it gradually became worse. It was so bad on Tuesday that we refused to leave the table until some of the officers had seen it. As a result we have been getting much better food. In the afternoon we passed a large steamer going the other way.
Wednesday morning we sighted three ships which we thought must be our escort but they turned out to be liners bound the other way. The water is very calm and there is almost no motion. In the evening we got Greenwich time. We set our watches ahead ninety-three minutes. Most of the water-tight doors were closed and guards were placed on the others. It was so hot and close below deck that I could get little sleep.
Thursday morning we were called out at 5:30 for life-boat drill. The captain told us that we would from now on have to remain on deck from twilight, about five in the morning, until dusk, about eight in the evening. We can go below for meals only. While on deck we have our life preservers, overcoats and canteens with us all the time. The weather is fine now, but the ocean is a little rougher, but not enough so that I mind it any. I think that we must be off the coast of Ireland and that we shall go around the north of Ireland. We expect to go to Liverpool and from there entrain for London. We are now in the danger zone.
It is now Friday morning. Our escort arrived last night about seven o’clock. Everyone was mighty glad to see them. It consisted of eight submarine chasers. They are small, but they certainly can travel. They are built low to the water. It is just two weeks ago today that we left camp. It seems like two months.
You should see us when we eat—we have to keep our life preservers on, so you can imagine what a sight we are. It was so hot in my stateroom last night that I took a blanket and slept on the floor in Harry and Cedric’s room.
We have arrived safely at our camp and I have received a letter that you wrote September 14. Harry left us when we landed in England and he has not arrived yet. He was to send a cablegram for all of us. We had no chance to send any as we were traveling all the time. Harry was left on a detail.
—————-
We had a splendid trip over. For the most part the weather was fair and the sea was very calm. It was a bit nasty two days and my stomach made me a bit nervous but at that I did not feed the fish. Many of the fellows were quite sick. We sailed from New York to **** [probably Halifax, NS], where we picked up about eight more ships. We were in the harbor a couple of days, but were not allowed shore leave. I never was very fond of **** but I certainly hated to see it disappear when we pulled out of ****. Our departure was very impressive. All the ships pulled up anchor at the same time and steamed out in one long line. The English sailors on the battleships cheered us as we passed by. I had my last inoculation while we were in **** harbor. We arrived at an English port on Hope’s birthday. I never even had a chance to cable home for they put us right on to trains that ran onto the wharves. Believe me they were some trains. Each car is divided into compartments and in each compartment are two seats running crossways in the car and facing each other. One of these compartments will hold about eight people. These are third-class cars.
The rails are light, the engines are small and the cars are made of wood. We looked the outfit over and concluded that we were in for a slow ride, but to our surprise we found that these trains can make great time. When they took corners I could think of nothing but my last ride in the roller coasters at Nantasket. We travelled in these cars all day, arriving at our destination at just dark. When we stopped at stations we all got out and bought stuff to eat. For all we knew they might have robbed us fearfully. They took our good silver and gave us back heavy copper cartwheels.
When we got off the train we marched three miles to what in England they call a rest camp. We had our packs and overcoats so were about dead when we arrived. We got to bed about one o’clock in the morning and got up about seven o’clock, worked all day and pulled out that afternoon—some rest! We walked back three miles to the wharves and got aboard a boat. On the boat we slept on the floor, all packed in like sardines. When we awoke we found that we were in a French port. We put on our packs, and as it was very warm, carried our overcoats in our arms. We started off at a killing pace and marched for about ten miles, the actual measurement I suppose it would have been three or four miles, only to find that our destination was another English rest camp. Here they packed twelve of us with our equipment into a tent large enough for about four. We stayed here for about eight hours and had a wonderful rest when we were not working.
About dark we hiked back about two miles to a French railroad station. Now the French railroad is a wonderful institution. You wait an hour or two for the train to start and then it travels at the rate of four miles per hour about two hours, when suddenly they come to the conclusion that they need to hurry and pile along about forty miles an hour for half an hour or so. The train stops and starts whenever and wherever it wishes. They packed us into a small edition of a freight car. In the day time it was not so bad for we could stand in the doorway and look at the passing country, but to sleep on that hard floor with the car lurching back and forth was some job. We were all tangled up and you could not turn over without waking the person opposite you.
We arrived at our destination in the middle of the second night. Trucks brought us from the train to this camp. There are German prisoners and French soldiers here. We are living in barracks now and are very comfortable. I have some time trying to make myself understood in French. The French money is not as bad as the English, though French bills look like coupons. Their paper money runs as small as fifty centinus [sic, centimes], or ten cents in our money.
I must stop now for it is time for mess. Went to a hotel and had a real meal last night. Love to all, Frank
Frank Woods is in the company in which are Daniel Needham, Lieut. Cedric Hodgman, Corp. Cedric Molson, Corp. Lawrence Gay and Ed. Roache, Mr. Woods being a private.
Shirley
Arrive Safe in France. Frank Wheeler has received the following official notice relating to the trip across to France of the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion, of which his son, Walter Wheeler, is a member:
Company A left Framingham on Friday, September 21. The next morning they disembarked outside of New York city and were put aboard a large excursion steamer and sailed up the East river to Hoboken, N.J., where they went aboard the transport Antilles. Leaving New York on Sunday afternoon they ran into a storm on Monday and poor weather continued for some days and parts of a great many other days until their arrival at a French port on Friday, October 5, twelve days out of New York. They came in sight of land at nine o’clock Friday morning, dropped anchor at eleven o’clock, and later proceeded on their way, arriving at dock at eight o’clock Friday night. On Sunday the troops disembarked and went into temporary camp not far from where the landing was made. It is expected that a removal to permanent training quarters probably followed a few days later. Most of the boys were seasick going over, although some of them were able to do guard duty. No submarines were sighted.
In the letters received from the boys there were expressions of gladness at being on land again, and that all the boys were well and happy, ready for any and every service demanded of them by Uncle Sam. The Antilles was sunk by a submarine on its return trip to America after the boys had been safely landed at a French port.
Boxborough
News from Abroad. Private G. Wendell Burroughs, Co. M, 101st Infantry, writes under the date of September 20:
“We are just coming into port in France. Since we left Framingham it is just fourteen days. We had a pretty good trip, although the ship was some crowded. There were seven ships in the fleet—two torpedo boats and one battleship—and we did not even see a submarine.
“When about two days out of France some French convoys came out and met us, so we were pretty well guarded. We took a train at Framingham on Thursday afternoon and traveled all night, reaching Harlem about four o’clock, and thence to Hoboken, where the transports were all ready for us, and we started about five o’clock in the afternoon.
“One day we had target practice on board with the five-inch guns and they made some racket, the concussion breaking some windows upon the officers’ deck. When near the coast I climbed up into the crow’s nest so I could get a good look at the land and it did look good, too, after seeing nothing but water for fourteen days.
“Last Thursday we were in the Bay of Biscay and the ship was rolling in great shape. While our company was getting supper I was waiting for my turn down in my bunk right under the ‘mess’ deck. All of a sudden the ship gave a lurch and all the tables went over in a heap. A lot of fellows slipped down and lost all their supper. As soon as we got out of the bay, though, it was just as calm as ever.
“My address is Company M, 101st U.S. Infantry, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces.”
Ayer
News Items. The Ayer basketball team defeated the Colonial five in a fast game in the town hall on Wednesday evening, the score being 40 to 27. Both teams were comprised of men from Camp Devens.
A movement is on foot to run excursion trains from Boston to Ayer on Saturdays, returning Mondays, for the benefit of the soldiers at the camp and their relatives who desire to visit them. A petition from camp officers ask that this be done for a round trip fare of fifty cents. J. H. Hustis, president and receiver of the Boston and Maine railroad, to whom the petition was sent, is considering the matter.
Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Lovejoy left Thursday for West Somerville, where they are to remain for an indefinite period. Ray S. Hubbard and family are to occupy Mr. Lovejoy’s house for the winter. Mr. Hubbard is chairman of the state committee on training camp activities and for several weeks has been at work in the interest of the soldiers at Camp Devens.
District Court. Tuesday, John Marcell, a Portuguese laborer at the camp, was defaulted for failing to appear for assault and battery on a fellow laborer. Marcel was arrested Monday night and held in twenty-five dollars to appear at court.
Three camp drunks were fined ten dollars, a fourth paid a fine of five dollars, and was placed on probation for three months.
Three boys, the oldest being but fourteen year of age, next received the attention of the court. The boys stated that they belonged in Dorchester and Roxbury, and were on their way to Camp Devens to seek work, having been lured to the camp by the stories of good jobs and big pay which they had heard of at their homes. The trio were picked up by Edward McCabe, state officer, at the railroad station late Wednesday night, and taken to the police station for safe keeping, where they remained until the following morning. Their combined capital amounted to only forty cents. Judge Atwood ordered them returned to their homes after instructing Thomas F. Mullin, probation officer, to communicate with the boys’ parents.
Camp Notes. The department heads and foremen of the Ley Construction Company had a very enjoyable time at the Richardson hotel, Lowell, last week Friday evening. Refreshments were served during a very pleasant social hour. Those present included John LePage, general superintendent; Louis Gonz, assistant general superintendent; Joseph McNeil, assistant superintendent; Robert Whitman, J. R. Waugh and F. B. Donahue, engineers, and John Fitzpatrick, Jeremiah Knapp, L. Sawyer, J. Murray, J. Nevins, R. Nickerson, J. Champagne, W. Horning, S. Vall, O. Derocher, F. Waugh, William Nadeau, J. Powers, R. McKinnon, A. Gaala, Samuel Suey, H. Sherman, P. Vigeaut, F. Garland, B. Baker, W. S Sangille, J. D. McNeil, W. S. McPherson, Henry Berbick, L. D. Hobson, Leonard Cornell, P. Sangille, J. Fullerton, Peter Chisholm, A. B. Lavelle and Thomas Mahoney, all foremen.
A draft board from Springfield visited the camp on Friday of last week to consult army physicians as to the proper method of examining and selecting men for the army. This is the first board that has ever come to the camp for such a purpose.
Investigation into the camp fire last week when the officers’ barracks were burned has been going on during the past week. While no decision as to the cause of the fire has been given out, it is understood that the original cause stated that the fire was caused by an overheated oil stove, as originally stated. This view is strengthened by the fact that orders have been given that no oil stove shall be left burning in any of the camp building unless there is someone to look after it.
A new theatre, made out of a large restaurant building, which formerly served as a part of the camp contractor’s commissary department, was opened the first of the week. The building will seat about 3000 persons and was constructed by drafted men.
Another sad accident occurred at the camp when Herbert H. [sic] Wilmot, a soldier attached to the machine gun battalion, was run over by a truck and instantly killed last Saturday afternoon. Wilmot was on his way to his home in Salisbury to spend the weekend. In attempting to get on the moving truck, loaded with soldiers going to Ayer, he fell beneath the truck, a rear wheel passing over his chest.
The 303rd infantry is now fully equipped with the new Lee-Enfield rifle, such as is used in the French battle front. This is the first regiment to receive this equipment.
Trench digging is still going on, this form of military work giving the men valuable lessons in trench warfare, as will be needed on the other side of the water. The region above the base hospital is the principal ground of operations. Many small trees have been cut down and stripped of their branches to make fascines and other trench supports.
Military maneuvers are daily events in the country about the camp. Squads of men are sent out in various directions through the neighboring woods and fields looking for imaginary foes. When any of the squads meets another a sham battle is gone through with all the movements of a real battle.
Some idea of the cosmopolitan character of the men at camp may be gained from the fact that in a squad of eight engaged in maneuvers a few days ago six spoke different languages.
A humorous incident took place in a local barber shop Monday night in which a soldier and an officer at Camp Devens were the principals. The former after having his tonsorial work done left the barber’s chair and came face to face with the officer who had been awaiting his turn to have his wants attended to. The soldier, upon failing to give the officer the usual salute, was quite sharply called to order by the officer who inquired as to the reason why the soldier did not give the required salute. The soldier then calmly informed the superior officer that he had been discharged that afternoon at five o’clock and was no longer subject to military rules. His point seemed to be well taken and the incident was closed.
A story is told of a draft soldier, who was recently transferred from Camp Devens to Camp Bartlett at Westfield. The young man, who is a Quaker, and speaks in quaint language of that sect, was doing guard duty one night when an officer appeared at the camp entrance. In place of the usual military challenge of “Who’s there,” the guardsman called in a rather mild tone, “Whither goest thou,” which made such a hit with the officer that he told the details to the officers and men at the camp. The joke is still going the rounds at the camp.
Last Sunday there was a comparatively small number of visitors at the camp. By order of the police department a detour was made by all incoming visitors from Main street to Park street to Shirley and thence to the camp. The reason for this change was due to the fact that West Main street is being repaired, there being only room for one line of traffic over this road until the highway is completed.
Fred J. Weyand, of Boston, took up his duties as chief of the secret service police at the camp on Tuesday.
The quarantine of the infected quarters of the ammunition train, whence there were several cases of measles, has been removed and all directly concerned are again at liberty.
Two more barracks buildings were burned Monday night in the third serious fire at the camp within the past few weeks. The buildings were located on the drill field in the main camp and were occupied by workmen. The carpenters, steamfitters and others of the camp construction force lost all their tools and clothing. The cause of the fires has not been determined. Twenty-seven other buildings were threatened with destruction but were saved by the camp’s efficient fire department under the direction of Chief Aree, formerly a member of the New York city fire department.
The Massachusetts soldiers were not allowed to go home to vote on Tuesday in spite of an urgent appeal from Gov. McCall to Secretary of War Baker for such permission. Four thousand New York State men cast their ballots on Monday for the election of the following day. The voting was done at the camp, there being a law in their home state which allows absent voters to cast their ballots wherever they may be. Several election officials of the Empire State came here to take charge of the voting. The men greatly appreciated the privilege granted them.
Cross-country running is becoming a favorite sport with the men in the Depot Brigade.
The Lowell men are planning to go to that city on Saturday. A parade is one of the features arranged for the occasion.
A small brush fire in a distant part of the cantonment called out many of the soldiers Monday night. All made a prompt response to the fire summons. The blaze was quickly put out.
A group of women from the D.A.R., Lowell, work one day a week doing sewing for the enlisted men.
Gov. Carl E. Milliken, of Maine, visited the camp on Tuesday. The governor came directly to division headquarters, going from there to the 303rd Field Artillery headquarters where nearly all the Maine men are located. Col. A. S. Conklin, the commander of the regiment, lined up the men on the parade ground, and with their band at the head of the column, marched in review past the governor. Later, the governor made a speech to the men at the Y.M.C.A. auditorium. The governor expressed himself as being greatly pleased with his visit. He was given a fine welcome.
Another visitor who received a rousing welcome was Sergt. Pierre Chevalier of the British recruiting mission. The sergeant has seen hard service on the battle front in France and has been relieved from duty because of his impaired health, the result of his severe military experience.
Boxing will be taught every man at the camp. The regular instructors will teach a certain number of the men who in turn will teach the rest. Several bouts have been given under the direction of Sergt. Edward Mack. A boxing instructor will be appointed in each company.
Tuesday an invitation was extended to all who desired to join the commissioned officers’ training school which is to open on January 3.